Labour leader rivals put focus on young people
Political Correspondent THE GLASGOW Guarantee that provides a job, training or education to every school leaver should be extended throughout Scotland, according to one of the contenders for the Labour leadership.
Anas Sarwar, Glasgow MSP, wants to extend the system to stop young people leaving school with no opportunities across the country.
The pledge comes as he and Richard Leonard go head to head at a hustings at the UK Labour Conference.
Mr Sarwar said the Glasgow programme has helped more than 7000 young people into work or apprenticeships.
He said if elected Labour leader he would work with councils to implement similar schemes and if he was to become First Minister a Labour Scottish government would roll out a national programme.
He said: “It is a national scandal that 10 per cent of young people in Scotland are not in education, employment or training.
“No young person should leave school without plans for their future.”
Mr Sarwar’s leadership rival, Richard Leonard wants action to improve opportunities for young people with experience of being in care.
The Central Scotland MSP wants to see priority access to NHS services, concessionary travel and quotas for modern apprenticeships to ensure equal access to training and council tax exemptions for young people leaving care.
Mr Leonard said: “Scotland’s most vulnerable children have been failed.
“Their life chances, in fact even t heir chance of life is reduced. This failure can’t be allowed to continue.
“That’s why I’m advocating action now. Longer term action will also be required but that is no excuse for not making what immediate improvements we can.
“It is right to make the fates of the most vulnerable young people our priority as a party and a country.”